3 Gore Apron Dress - Measurements & Pattern Sizingby Katla járnkona

When making an apron dress with this method of layout, you make your decision on how long the dress can be is based on both how much fabric you have and how much fabric you need, based upon your body's basic measurements. The pieces that make up your dress will be cut from the cloth as laid out in the diagram at the right. Note: This layout assumes that your fabric doesn't have any sort of 'nap' that forces an orientation along the fabric; also, this layout also requires that there is no difference between the 'right' side of the fabric and the 'wrong' side of the fabric. So, let's do the calculation of how much fabric you'll need.

Use the larger measurement: your bust/chest size or your waist. Be sure to include room
for breathing, movement and the fabric of your undertunic:

Measurement for:

Actual size:

Pattern:

Bust or waist: (larger)

Length from armpit to waist:

Desired length:

Your preferred seam allowance:

Your preferred hem width:

Note: If you are, like me, a plus size, you may want more fabric to slip around your hips.
You can get more width around the hips by increasing the length of the gore so that it starts above the waist.

To do this, shorten the length from the armpit to the waist.

(Armpit to waist) + S.A.

A =

(Bust / 3) + (2 * S.A.)

B =

Pattern piece length:

A + C =

Gore Length, therefore:

C =

Gore Width ( 2 * B ):

GoreW =

A + C + C:

L =

W =

7*S.A. + Bust

Estimated length of hem:

Remember, that you'll need some additional fabric for the straps over the shoulder, optional facing at the top of the apron, plus optional fabric for joining your half gores.

Remember, this is not rocket science!
It will not be critical if you round the numbers to a convenient fraction (⅛, ¼, ⅜, etc.).

Before you assemble your pattern pieces, you should round off the bottom of both the gores and the side pieces so that your measurement from waist to hem is equal on both the seams and the center of each piece. You'll have an easier time getting a uniform hem length.